Improvement in mast-heads



S. T. NICKERSON.

Improvement in Mast-Heads.-

No. 124,006. Paten ted Feb.27,1872.

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SAMUEL T. NIGKERSON, OF SOUTH ORRINGTON, MAINE.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAST-HEADS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 124,006, dated February 27, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL T. N ICKERSON, of South Orrington, in the county of Penobscot and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Improved Mast-Head; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing form; ing a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 shows a side view of same; Fig. 2, a section.

Same letters show like parts.

When the masts of vessels are constructed in the ordinary way the masthead is made by forming a shoulder at the top of the mast, which shoulder serves to receive the crosstrees and shrouds, leaving the mast-head to project above them to sustain the topmast. These trees and shrouds retain the water and moisture which soak into the mast around the shoulder, working its way into it in the direction of the grain, tending to rot it badly, so much so, in fact, that usually new masts have to be provided as often as once in four years, or the old ones spliced. Moreover, the extra length of stick required when the mast and mast-headare made ofonepieceaddsverymuch to the expense. The object of my invention is to obviate these difficulties, to protect the mast from the effects of moisture, making it very much more durable, and to save the expense of the additional length of timber taken up by the mast-head.

I efl'ect my purpose by making said masthead of metal, either cast or constructed of plate-iron, said mast head being provided with shoulders to receive the cross-trees and shrouds, and having below said shoulders a socket or sleeve fitting over the head of the mast proper, and extending downward thereon as far as desired. This sleeve may be secured, if necessary, by bolts passing through the mast. The shoulders being water-tight, and the top of the mast being protected by them, no water can penetrate the wood to decay it. The mast-head being of metal, the additional eight or ten feet of mast is saved, this extra length costing very much more in proportion than the rest of the mast. The additional weight is so small as to be of no account.

In the drawing, A shows the mast proper b, the metal mast-head, having shoulders c to receive the cross-trees and shrouds, and the sleeve or socket d to receive the top of the mast. No shoulders are necessary on the mast A, the sleeve d being made sufficiently large to receive its full size. Bolts cf may be used to secure it to said mast, if necessary, as stated.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

As a new article of manufacture, the metallic mast-head, as described, secured to the head of the mast by means of the socket or sleeve cl, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

SAMUEL T. NIOKERSON.

Witnesses:

WM. FRANKLIN SEAVEY, JOHN WILLIAMs. 

